SAPPER JAMES MURCELL TAYLOR
4483 – Australian Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Born at Walhalla, Victoria, in 17 March1893, James Murcell was the son of David and Mary (nee Brien) Taylor. Brothers David Murray born 1873; Henry Thomas born 1878; George Frederick born 1880; Charles born 1884; Sisters Ellen Gordon born 1882 & Jessie Olive born 1889, all at Walhalla
At Narrogin, WA, James completed an Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Forces on 16 March 1916 and signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ the same day at East Perth, WA. He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 10 April, also at Perth.
A medical examination on 16 March at Perth recorded that he was 23 years of age. He was 5ft 6ins tall, weighed 137 lbs; had a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He was of the Presbyterian faith. He was re-examined on 10 April and found to be ‘fit for active service’.
He stated his occupation as ‘electrical engines’, and named as his Next-of-Kin his mother Mrs. Mary Taylor of Stirling Park, Yilliminning, Narrogin, Western Australia.
He was appointed to No.6 Tunnelling Company with the rank of Sapper, and on 11 April 1916 and embarked for the Western Front on board Warilda.
Two Sections of the Northern recruits to form the No.4 Company had embarked from Brisbane, Queensland early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No.5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania consisting of a Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No.5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
James embarked at Fremantle on board Warilda on 1 June 1916.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 No.6 Company, recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.R,s embarked and Warilda departed the same day for the European theatre.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where soldiers going Absent Without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather and terminated at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front.
James proceeded overseas to France on 28 August 1916 and marched in to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot on 30 August.
He was attached to the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC) on 28 September 1916.
He was duly awarded his Blue Chevrons. Each blue Service Chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A red Chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.
He was wounded in action on 27 February 1918 and admitted to the 13th Field Ambulance. He was transferred the same day to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station for treatment. On 5 March he was transferred to the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples and evacuated to England on 7 March on board Hospital Ship Ville de Liege with shell wounds to left arm and chest and admitted to the Northamptonshire War Hospital at Duston.
On 21 March he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, and then discharged to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth, on 9 April.
James left England on board Matatua on 17 June 1918 for return to Australia due to weakness and the shell wound to his left shoulder and arm. Disembarking at Fremantle on 8 August, he was discharged from the A.I.F in Perth as ‘medically unfit’ on 10 September 1918, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
James Murcell Taylor married Evelyn Frances Lipsett at Perth in 1924:
The 1925 Electoral Roll records James Murcell Taylor, farmer, living at “Stirling”, Yilliminning, WA. He is possibly farming with his brothers David and Henry who are recorded farming at the same location. Evelyn Taylor, home duties, is recorded living at “Mt Royal”, Yilliminning.
In April 1931 his medical and military records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Perth, WA.
On the 1931 and 1936 Electoral Rolls. James, Evelyn and David are recorded as living at Yelbeni, Toodyay, WA, where James and David are farming.
Between 1949 and 1963, James and Evelyn Taylor are farming at Chorkerup, Albany, WA, as is their son
James Murray Taylor, recorded at Chorkerup from 1954.
James Murcell Taylor died on 2 November 1964, age 71, and was buried Allambie Cemetery, Albany, WA.
His wife Evelyn died in 1979 and was buried with James.
© Donna Baldey 2014